The Car Connection Expert Review

An all-new Frontier compact pickup truck debuts for 2005 that's larger and more powerful than before. This time around it shares platforms with the also-new Xterra and Pathfinder sport-utility vehicles, which is essentially a modified version of the fully boxed, ladder frame used on the full-size Armada SUV and Titan pickup. Never let it be said that Nissan doesn't know how to make the most of its available engineering. The new pickup comes in a choice of either rear- or four-wheel drive, in four-door King Cab and Crew Cab versions. The former configuration includes front-hinged rear access doors and flip-up back seats, while the latter comes with conventional rear-hinged doors and a full-sized bench seat. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine powers the base version, and a new 250-horsepower 4.0-liter V-6 is included with the rest of the line. A six-speed manual transmission is standard and a five-speed automatic transmission is optional. A "high-utility" pickup bed includes both a factory-applied spray-in bedliner and a "Utili-track" cargo tie-down system. Front-side and roof-mounted side-curtain airbags with rollover protection for front and rear passengers are among the vehicle's many options.